Into the Fire

In the past two days we've talked about our good qualities and our less-than-stellar traits. Now the question for a writer is, "How do I incorporate what I know about myself to make characters seem real?"

We're never alone in our idiosyncracies. Our strengths and weaknesses are common to many. Creating characters who don't seem stereotypical challenges our capabilities to make personalities real and honest but still convince readers of both their unique and familiar tendencies. No easy task, but it's what makes fiction important and meaningful. By making fictitious characters feel like we "know" them, we cross the line between imaginary and real. We transpose a reality to our stories, manufacturing empathy and pushing investment, hoping to leave a lasting memory at the end of the book.   

Do you see how valuable the positives and negatives can be when writing story?

Father, you know us all. When we yield to your design, we are useful and can do meaningful things. Apart from you: we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.